Routing machine



Dec. 17,

. E. G. ROEHM ROUTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1935. E G, RQEHM 2,024,250

ROUTING MACHINE Filed My s, 193s ssheets-sneet 2 Dec. 17, 1935. E, Q ROEHM 2,024,250

ROUTIN MACHINE Filed May s, 1933 5 sheets-sheet 4 l Dec. 17, 1935. E. G. RoEHM ROUTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 1.7, `1935 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE ROUTING MACHINE Erwin G. Roehm, Norwood, Ohio, assigner to The Cincinnati Milling Machine-Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May s, 1933, serial No.' 669,208

26 Claims. (el. en -15) This invention relates to milling machines and more particularly to an improved routing machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to improve the capacity and range of operation of routing machines whereby large as well as small work may be accommodated and light cuts at extremely high speeds as Well as heavy cuts at .slew speeds may be made possible, all in a single machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved control mechanism for a routing machine whereby the same may be operated manually, automatically, or partially manually and partially automatically.

.Another object of this invention is to provide an improved high speedspindle transmission for routing machines. l

.An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for varying the spacing between tool and Work having indicating means which is responsive to movement of eith'er the tool support or Work support so that the actual distance separating the parts -will be indicated at all times and regardless of which support is moved.

Still further objects are to improve routing machines generally so that the supports may be effortlessly moved by the operator; all the maychine controlsl grouped at a convenient operating station and thereby readily accessible to the operator, and in which the manual controls mostly used may be positioned at a convenient height to suit the convenience of the operator regardless of the vertical position of the support carrying them.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by refer- 4 ence to the following specification considered in I' 55 ram as viewed on the line 3-3 of FigureA 1.

conjunction with the accompanying drawings il- Figure 4 is a section on the line 4,-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed .section as viewed on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail as viewed on the 5 line 6 6 of Figure 5. y Figure 'l is an expanded View of the power transmission to the Work support.

Figure 8 is a view of the feed change mechanism for the table transmission. f 10 Figure -9 is a detailed view of the feed control rate dial.

Figure 10-is a section on the line III-I0 of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the spindle 15v clutch control mechanism as viewed von the line II-I I of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the operating mechanism for the dial indicating separationbetween tool and work taken on the line I2-I2 of 20 Figure 2;

Figure 13 is a section through one of the adjustable control levers taken on the -line I3-I3 of Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a detail View of the indicating dial 25 as viewed on the line III- I4 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a section on the line I5-I5 of Figure 2. v

Figure 16 is a detail view of a reversing mechanism for the spindle.

Figure 17 is a plan view of the spindle brake mechanism.

This invention contemplates an improved routing machine, one embodiment of the complete machine being shown more particularly in Fig- 35 ures 1 and 2. In` these gures 'the reference numeral I0 indicates the column of the machine, said column having vertical guideways II on a vertical face thereof for receiving and guiding a work support organization comprising the y knee I2, and a table I3. The knee is mounted on the guideways II for vertical movement toward and from a cutter spindle I6 while the table I3 is supported on the knee for transverse movement relative to said cutter spindle. A pair of horizontal guideways I4' are formed on the upper part of the column for receiving a reciprocable ram I5, said ram projecting over the work support organization and having the rotatable cutter spindle IG mounted in the projecting end thereof'. Means are also provided, as explained hereafter, for effecting axial adjustment of the cutter spindle toward and from the work support organization.A Thus relative movement between the tool and work may be effected in a plurality of directions; that is, the knee may be vertically adjusted for accommodating various sizes of work, while small vertical adjustments such as depth of cut may be effected in the same plane by adjusting the cutter spindle which is a much lighter member to move than the heavy work support. Also,y the ram being horizontally movable transversely of the direction of movement of the table makesA it possible by controlling the movement of both tocut or profile any desired contour scribed on the work.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the ram I5 is provided on opposite sides with longitudinally extending guide portions I1 which project laterally into engagement with the guides I4. To prevent side play, an adjustable tapered gib I8 may be provided between parts I4 and I1 in the well known manner of such devices. The underside of the guide portions I1 are provided with depending longitudinally extending ribs I9 which engage antiifriction roller chains 20. 'I'hese chains "are y'supported at opposite ends on pulleysy 2'I 'and are free to move with the ram or relative thereto. In addition, the longitudinal portion of the chain extending between the two pullies is supported on upwardly projecting guide ribs 22 which are formed integral with the upper part of the column I0. The guide surfaces 22 actually form the support for the ram and 4must be finished true and accurate while the roller chain forms an anti-friction means for supporting the ram for easy manual movement by the operator. Equalized anti-friction holddowns 23 are provided as shown in Figures 2 and 10 for preventing any vertical lifting movement of the ram while permitting relative movement thereof. The hold downs 23 are attached at their centers, as by bolts 296, to the column IU. Antifriction rollers 291 are secured to the opposite ends of the hold-downs, and are forced downward by the bolts into equalized pressure contact with the top of the ram guides I1`.

The ram is traversed by means of a lead screw 24 which is fixed at Opposite ends as at 25 with the ram for longitudinal movement therewith and against relative rotation with respect thereto. The lead screwextends through a rotatable nut member 26 which is journaled in a bearing 21 `formed integral with the column, said nut having sprocket wheel 28 integral therewith Whereby the nut may be rotated, as by a chain 29. It will also be apparent that upon rotation of the nut 26, the ram and thereby the spindle will bemoved longitudinally in one direction or the other over the work.

The cutter spindle I6 as shown in Figure 3 is mounted in anti-friction bearings 30 and 3I carried by an axially adjustable quill 32. The spindle extends upwardly and is splined at 33 in the clutch member 34 axially adjustable thereon. The upper end of the spindle is guided for free rotation in the axially fixed clutch member 35.

The spindle is adapted to be driven at extremely high speeds which is necessary when tools of very small diameter are used; or at moderate speeds when ordinary size routing tools or end mills are used. The transmission for effecting these alternative results comprises a gear box, having an initial drive shaft 36, to which is keyed the gear 31, connected, by a suitable chain or belt 38, to the drive member 39 of motor 40, said motor being mounted uponrthe top of the gear box. The shaft 36 is splined for receiving a pair of shiftable gear couplets 4I and 42. The couplet 4I comprises gears 43 and 44 which are shiftable respectively into mesh with gears and 46, while the couplet 42 comprises gears 41 and 48 shiftable respectively into mesh with gears 49 and 50. on an intermediate shaft 5I extending longitudinally of the gear box and this shaft also carries an additional gear 52`adapted to mesh with gear 53 of the shiftable couplet54 mounted on spline shaft 55. 'I'he couplet 54 also includes gear 56 10 which is engageable upon opposite movement of the couplet with gear 49. It will thus be seen that by shifting the couplets 4I and 42 any one of four different speeds may be transmitted to the shaft 5I and that these speeds may be mul- 15 tiplied to either by selectively shifting the couplet 54. Each of these couplets is provided with a shifter fork, the shifter fork for couplet 4I being mounted on the end of shaft 51, Figure 2, operable by the manual control lever 58, which 20 has a neutral position, as shown, and operating positions on opposite sides thereof determined by' stops 59 and 6I'I`for selectively engaging gear 43 or 44 with its coasting gear. The couplet 42 is provided with a shifter fork 6I mounted on the 25 endof rotatable shaft 62 having a manual control lever 63 which is also movable to three positions in a similar manner to lever 58. The couplet 54 has a shifter fork 64 mounted on the end of rotatable shaft 65 having a control lever 3o 66 which is movable to two positions 61 or 68.V It is thus possible by manual adjustment of these various control levers to determine or select any one of eight different speeds for rotation of shaft 55.

The shaft 55 forms in effect a common driver for two branch transmissions which may be selectively utilized for rotation of the spindle. The first branch transmission comprises the bevel gear 69, Figure 3, which is keyed to the end of 40 shaft 55, and is anti-frictionally mounted in the forward end of the ram for engagement with bevel gear 19 having an elongated hub supported at opposite ends in anti-friction bearings 1I and 12 for free rotation relative to the spindle I6. 45 The upper end of this gear member is provided with clutch teeth 13 adapted to be selectively engaged by clutch teeth 14 formed on the lower end of the reciprocable clutch member 34. This branch transmission imparts relatively slow speeds to the spindle and may be varied by the gear box in a manner as previously explained. It is to be understood that these speeds are the ordinary range of spindle speeds but are relatively slow compared to those of the high speed 55 branch. The second branch transmission is for transmitting relatively high speeds to the spindle and includes a bevel gear 15 which is in splined en? gagement with shaft but which is supported 60 at opposite ends in anti-friction bearings 16 and 11carried by an adjustable housing 18. A shaft 19 is journaled in this housing normal to shaft 55 and carries a bevel gear 80 at one end meshing with bevel gear 15 and a large pulley 8| keyed 65 to the opposite end. The housing 18 has an integral circular flange 82 which has a finished surface 83 on the underside thereof by which it is supported cn a nished surface 84 formed integral with the ram for effecting lateral adjustment of the pulley 8| relative to a pulley 82 mounted coaxially of the spindle I6. The pulleys 8I and 82 have a plurality of V-shaped grooves 83 formed in their periphery for receiving a plurality of V-belts 84'. The housing is adjustable 75 The gears 45, 46, 49 and 5I) are fixed 5 in the manner explained for determining the friction of the belt drive and thereby the load transmitted. This adjustment may be effected by a screw which is fixed in a bearing 86 and held against longitudinal movement by a set screw 81. The screw passes through a nut portion 88 formed integral with the flange 82 and at the opposite end is provided with a hexagonal head 89 for the applic-ation of a suitable wrench.

It will be noted that this adjusting mechanism' is located at auch a point that the driving thrust tends to center the shaft 19 rather than act to throw the same out of alignment. Thus there is no lateral strains on the housing which might react on the shaft 55 and cause binding of the parts. Since the pulley 8| is several times larger than the pulley 82 a large step up in the rotation of the spindle over the shaft 19 may be obtained and, due to the belt drive, without the danger of frictionally locking up such as would happen if gearing were used.

The pulley 82 is keyed on the extended sleeve 99 of the clutch member 35, the sleeve being journaled in anti-friction be-arings 9| fixed with the ram. The clutch member 35 is mounted for free rotation relative to the upper end of the spindle and it will therefore be apparent that whenthe clutch member 24 is moved to a central or neutral position that the spindle will be atrest, while if moved downward to engage clutch teeth 14 with clutch teeth 13 the spindle will rotate at one series of speeds; and if moved upward to engage the cone surface 92 of clutch 34 with the cone surface 93 of member 35 that the spindle will be rotated at a highrate of speed.

The shiftable clutch member 34 is provided with a shifter fork 94, keyed to shaft 95, which extends transversely of the head. As shown in Figures 11 and 15 the shaft 95 projects through the side wall 98 of the rain and is there provided with a lever arm 91 having a roller 98 rotatably journaled in the end thereof. This roller engages a cam groove 99 formed in the rotatable cam |00, journaled at lill and |02 in a housing |93 mounted on the side of the ram. A bevel gear |04 is secured to the end of cam shaft |05, in mesh with a bevel gear segment |06 keyed to the projecting end of stud shaft |01 journaled in housing |03. An operating lever |08 is fixed with the segment and projects beyond the housing toward the front of the machine within easy reach of the operator. The cam-groove 99 is so formed that upon continuous movement from a neutral position it will shift clutch 34 to a slow speed position and then to its high speed position. In other words, the lever |08 has three positions or stations which range successively stop-low speed, and high speed. A suitable detent wheel |09 is keyed to the shaft |05 for maintaining the parts in any one of these three positions.

If so desired a reversing mechanism forl the spindle may be provided in whichcase it may be substituted in place of the drive chain 38 and accompanying sprockets, as more particularly shown in Figure 16. In such a case the shaft 36 would be provided with a spurgear 298 meshing with a simil-ar spur gear 300 carried by the frame 30| mounted for pivotal movement about shaft 36. An idler gear 302 is also journaled on the frame in conztant mesh with the gear 300. An operating handle 303 may be fixed to the pivoted frame and project through the housing of the ram and provided on its exterior end with a.

spring pressed latch 304 operable by pressing the handle 305. A'detent plate 306 may be provided with a pair of notches 301 for holding the plate 30| in the position shown in which case gear 300 will mesh with the drive pinion 308 fixed to the end of the armature shaft for the motor 40 causing rotation of the spindle in one direction, or the handle 303 may be moved upward to mesh gear 302 with pinion 308; in which case the gear 300 will be withdrawn from mesh with thepinion 308 and the cutter spindle will rotate in an opposite direction.

Due to the high rates of speed at which the spindle might rotate, means have been provided for braking the spindle after the power is disconnected therefrom. To this end a pair of brake-shoes 309 are pivotally mounted at 3|0 on the spindle housing and surround the periphery of the clutch member 34. A. brake operating shaft 3|| is journaled at opposite ends in the housing and has a threaded portion 3|2 engaging one brake shoe and a cam member 3 i3 which is engageable with the other brake shoe upon rotation of the shaft. A spring 3 i4 tends to constantly urge the brake shoes apart. The end of the shaft 3|| is provided with a crank arm 3|5 which is connected by a link 3|6 to a crank arm 3|1 which, as shown in Figure l1, is secured to the end of shaft |01. The cam groove 39 in the cam drum |00 ha's a straight portion of sufficient length to permit additional movement of 'the lever |08 after the clutch has been disengaged which thereby permits the crank arm 3H to ro-` taie through the intervening linkage, the shaft 3| I, and thereby draw the brakeshoes together.

As previously mentioned, the spindle i9 is supported in the quill 32 for vertical adjustment and the mechanism for eifecting this will now be described. The quill 32 is provided with a rack portion i0 whichv is engaged bya worm gear Iii journaled on a shaft H2. A bevel gear |23 tegral with the worm operatively meshes with bevel gear i |4 keyed to the end of operating shaft H5. This shaft extends through the housing and is provided with a manual operating hand wheel IE6 and a dial ||1. This dial, which may be graduated to thousandths, indicatesthe actualv amount of movement imparted to the quill and spindle, and is independent of the relative position of the work support organization. It wiil effecting vertical adjustment of the cutter, such as increasing the depth of cut after the relative position between the Work and cutter has been established.

The mechanism for effecting translation of the ram includes a sprocket member lli` which is journaled within the column and around which the previously mentioned chain 29 from sprocket wheel 26 passes. The sprocket Wheel H8 is keyed to a shaft ||9 having a bevel gear |20 on the end thereof meshing with bevel gear |2|` keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft |22. The lower end of this shaft has bevel gear |23 meshing withbevel gear |24 fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft |25 the other end of which carries a bevel gear |28. This last gear meshes with bevel gear |21 which is fired with the column but has a splined bore through which a vertical shaft |28 xed with the knee may move upon adjustment of the knee. The shaft |20 is coupled to a horizontal shaft |29 through bevel gear |30, the shaft |29 being journaled in the knee and extending to the front of the machine. As seen in Figure 13 the shaft is provided with a sprocket wheel |3| and exteriorly of the front wall |32 of the knee. Mounted for free rotation on the shaft |29 is an adjustable hand wheel carrying arm |33 which has a boss |34 at its outer extermity in which is journaled a. shaft |35. A handle wheel |36 is keyed to one end of this shaft and a sprocket |31 is keyed to the opposite end, the sprocket wheel |31 being connected to the sprocket wheel |3| by a chain |38. This adjustable arm makes it possible to vary the height of the ram control handle wheel |36 independent of the knee which is very desirable when the knee is moved to its lowest position to receive a large piece of work and which ordinarily would cause the handle wheel to b-e lowered therewith. lIn such cases the arm |33 may be angularly adjusted to raise the hand wheel to a convenient position for the operator, thereby eliminating unnecessary stooping. The arm |33 is provided with a segment portion |39 carrying a lock pin |40 which is adapted to be engaged in a series of holes 4| formed in a projecting boss on the wall |32. The longitudinal position of the ram may thus be controlled from the front of the machine and from a position almost exactly in front of the cutter which is more or less necessary when performing routing or die sinking operations.

After the cutting tool has been inserted in the spindle, and the work mounted upon the table, it is sometimes desirable for the operator to know the exact distance between the end of the tool and the top of the table regardless of whether the spindle or the knee has been adjusted during set-up. To this end a dial mechanism has been provided which indicates at all times the distance separating the tool and work support regardless of whether the spindle quill or the knee is adjusted. The knee is provided with a vertically extending rod |42 having rack teeth |43 formed in the upper end thereof engaging with an idler gear |44 meshing with spur gear |45 which is journaled in the column and therefore fixed against bodily movement. This gear has a splined bore for receiving a horizontal splined shaft |46 which extends forward to the spindle housing. and has secured to one end the dial member |41 having a pointer |48 on its face as shown in Figure 14. Surrounding the shaft |46 is an elongated sleeve member |49 journaled in the spindle housing for rotation independent of shaft |46. A spur gear |50 is keyed to the sleeve in mesh with a second rack portion formed on the quill. 'A graduated dial in the form of a collar 52 is secured to the end of the sleeve as by set screw,|53. This dial is concentric with pointer |48 and is graduated in inches and fractions thereof as indicated at |54. The operation of this device is as follows: Upward movement of the knee will cause vertical movement of the rod |42 and thereby through the rack and pinion connection, rotation of shaft |46, which will cause relative movement of the pointer |48 with respect to graduations |54. On the other hand, axial adjustment of quill 32, will cause rotation of sleeve |49 and thereby movement of dial |52 relative to pointer |48. It will thus be apparent that regardless of which support is moved, the dial |52 will indicate the adjustment. If both members are moved up together or moved down together then both dial |52 and pointer |48 will move together because no change in the spacing of the parts has occurred. This mechanism thus affords a means for always indicating to the operator the distance that separates the spindle from the work support.

The table |3 is supported upon the knee for `the hold-downs.

free and easy movement 'in the following manner. The knee has an upwardly extending center guide portion |51 which has guide surfaces |58 and |59 on opposite sides thereof. The table is pro- 4vided with spaced depending guide ribs |60 and 6| the rib |60 having a surface |62 cooperating with guide surface |58. A gib |63'is interposed between the guide surfaces |59 and |6| for establishing a sliding t between the table and knee and at the same time preventing any side play. This construction serves as a longitudinal guide means for the table and prevents any lateral movement thereof. The table is actually supported upon the knee by antifriction means comprising a series of balls or rollers |64, the balls inter-fitting in V-grooves |65 and |66 in the knee and table respectively. A plate |61 may be provided having a series of apertures therein for maintaining equal spacing of the balls, said plate being suitably anchored to the knee to prevent the balls from being lost. The table is held against lifting by means of the hold-down strips |68 and |69 which it will be noted project into longitudinal slots formed in the side of the table, the botom surface of said slots being nished to form a true surface for engagement with This construction is particularly advantageous in that a maximum width of table is provided and without the possibility of chips or coolant finding access to the bearing surfaces.

A lead screw 'more particularly shown in Figure '7 is anti-frictionally supported at opposite ends in the table by means of anti-friction bearings |1| only one of which is shown in the drawings. The lead screw passes through a nut |12 Awhich is fixed with the knee l2 wherely upon rotation of the screw the table will be moved transversely of the cutter. Rotation of the screw is manually effected by means of a hand wheel |13 which is selectively connected by clutch teeth |14 to a sprocket wheel |31 which is connected by similar means as explained in Figure 13 to shaft |15. This shaft has a bevel gear |16 keyed to one end thereof in engagement with a similar bevel gear |11 journaled in bearing |18 integral with the knee |2. The bevel gear has a splined connection at |13 to the lead screw whereby the screw will rotate 'with the gear but is free to move axially relative to the gear. The hand wheel |13 may be mounted on an adjusting arm in a similar manner to that described in connection with the hand wheel |36 whereby both of these hand wheels may be set at a predetermined level regardless of the actual vertical position oi' the knee itself. These two hand wheels are located adjacent to one another in convenient reach of the operator and in adjacent relation to the tool whereby the operator may guide the movement of the 'table and ram in such manner as to cause the tool to follow any desired outline.

In operating upon large work pieces the amount of material to be moved within a given outline may be large so that the greater amount of material may be removed by power means rather than manually and for this reason a power transmission has been provided for the table as more particularly shown in Figure 7. A prime mover |80 which is attached to the knee with the gear |8| on its armature shaft in engagement with gear |82 keyed to the main transmission drive shaft |83. This shaft serves to drive a feed transmission and a rapidtraverse transmission which terminate in a nal drive shaft |84 which shiftable into mesh with gears 2 I1 is connected by bevel gearing |85 to the vertical shaft |88. l

The rapid traverse transmission includes the initial drive gear |81 fixed to the shaft |83 which is connected by a gear train denoted generally by the reference numeral |88 to the final rapid traverse rotor |89. This rotor which is in the form of a gear is mounted in anti-friction bearings |90 in a fixed part of the knee.

' The feed transmission is driven from gear |9| fixed to shaft |83 which gear meshes with the spur gear |02 fixed with splined shaft |93. A pair of couplets |94 and |95 are slidably mounted on this splined shaft, the couplet |94 including gears |96 and |91 selectively engageable with gears|98 and |99, while the couplet |95 includes gears 200 and selectively engageable with gears 202 and 203 respectively. 'I'he couplets |94 and |95 are shifted respectively by shifter arms 204 and 205, Figure 8, pivotally mounted at 206 and 201. The shifter arm 204 has a roller 208 on the end thereof engaging a groove 209 in a shifter cam 2|0. The arm 205 has a similar roller 2|| engaging groove 202 in cam 2|3.

.The gears 203, 202, |98, and |99 are fixed with shaft 2|4 which also has fixed therewith a geary 2|5. A third parallel shaft 2|6 has two fixed gears 2|1 and 2 |8 thereon and a shiftable couplet 2|9 splined thereto. 'This couplet includes gears 220 and 22| selectively engageable with gears 2|5 and |99, respectively, Whereby eight different speeds may be imparted to shaft 2|6. A fourth parallel'shaft 222 has a shiftable couplet 223 splined thereon comprising gears 224 and 225 and2 I8 respectively. This makes it possible to impart sixteen different rates to the shaft 222. A third gear 226 is fixed on shaft 222 for engagement with the nal feed rotor 221. This rotor or gear has clutch teeth 228 formed on one face thereof for engagement with complementary clutch teeth on the shiftable clutch member 229.

The couplets 2| 9 and 223 are provided with plvoted shifter arms 230 and 23| respectively which have rollers journaled in the end thereof for engagement with grooves 232 and 233 respectively formed in cams 234 and 235. The cams 2|0 and 2|| are fixed on shaft 238 having integral therewith spur gear 231 which meshes with the spur gear 238 fixed to shaft 239. This latter shaft carries the cams 234 and 235. The ratio of the gears 231 and 238 is two to one whereby the shaft 238-will make two revolutions for ,one revo- Rotation of these cams-is effected by a bevel gear 240 fixed to theend of shaft 239 meshing with bevel gear 24| mounted on the end of shaft 242 which shaft extends upwardly at an angle in bracket 243 as shown in Figure 2, for reception of an operating lever 244. This lever is more particularly shown in Figure 9 and has associated therewith for joint rotation the disk 245 and pointer 248 which passes over indicia 241- inscribed on the fixed plate 248. Suitable detent mechanism 248' serves to hold the parts in adjusted position. It will now be seen that rotaton of hand lever 244 will effect shifting of the various gear couplets of the feed transmission to yield any of the rates indicated on the dial. It -will also be noted from Figure 1 that this feed rate selector is associated in close proximity to the table andram control wlceels. Y

The rapid traverse rotor |89 is selectively ccuplable to the shifter member 229 by means of the friction disk clutch 249 as more particularly operating shaft 251 having the manual lever 258 10 fixed thereto. It will be noted that this feedrapid traverse control lever is also nested Ain close proximity to the other control parts previously mentioned. i

'Ihe shaft |80 in Figure 7 has aI bevel gear 259 15 fixed to the end thereof in engagement with opposite rotatable gears 260 and 26|. These gears have clutch teeth 262 formed -on the opposing faces for engagement with complementary clutch .teeth 263 formed on opposite sides of the reverser 20 clutch 264. This clutch has a splined connection at 265 with the lead screw |10 but is capable of movement relative thereto for opposite engagement with the gears 260 and 26|.

The shifter 284 is engaged by a shifter fork 268, Figure 6, mounted on the end of the axially movable rod 261. This .rod has rack teeth 268 meshing with a pinion 269 integral with the lever 210. A trip post 21| is journaled in the forward part of the knee, as shown in Figure 5, adjacent 30 the front longitudinal edge of the table and carries on its lower end a leverarm 212, operatively connected to the lever 210, by a pin and slot connection 213. The provision of two levers, such as 210 and 212, makes it possible for the manual control lever 214 xed with the trip post to serve as a directional control lever; that is, movement of the lever to the right from a central position will indicate that the table will move toward the, right while movement of the lever to the left from a central position will indicate that thetable will move toward the left. A three-'position -detent plate 21-5' is fixed integral with the pin 289 and engageable by a spring pressed paw] 215 for maintaining the parts in any one of three positions. The trip post 21| is provided with a wing portion 216 for engagement by suitable trip dogs 211 which may be adjustably mounted in a T-slot 218 formed lin the front edge'of the table. These dogs may be adjustably positioned in the usual manner of such devices to limit the extent of movement of the table in either direction, It will thus be seen that by throwingl the control lever in either direction the table will be power moved and its extent of movement will be automatically limited by the dogs 211. 'I'he feed transmission for the table which is shown in expanded view in Figure '1 is mounted in a gear box 219 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gear box being assembled as a unit and installed in a depression 280 formed in the front face of the knee, the mere installation of the box effecting inter-engagementV of -gear |82 to the armature pinion |8I. l

The feed transmission may also be utilized for effecting power translation of the ram in which case a pair of bevel gears 3|8 and 3|9 are mounted for free rotation on the shaft |86 as shown in Figure 7 and an interposed sleeve 320 may be splined to the shaft for holding' the bevel gears 70 in spaced relation to one another. Splined to the exterior of this sleeve is a clutch member 32| having clutch teeth 322 upon opposite faces thereof, adapted to mesh with complementary clutch teeth 323 formed on the end faces of the bevel gears. These bevel gears mesh with a bevel pinion 324 secured to one end of the horizontal shaft 325 which has a similar bevel pinion 326 secured to the other end in mesh with 'the bevel gear 321 keyed to the shaft |29.

A shifter fork y328 is keyed to the end of shaft 329 which extends to the front of the machine, as shown in Figure l, where it is provided with an operat ng handle 330. If so desired, a plurality of detents 33| formed in the front of the machine, may be provided for holding the lever in any one of three positions. It is therefore possible to power reciprocate the ram in either direction where large movements are to be made quickly.

In order to insure adequate support for the knee and work table and reduce overhanging as far as possible, the knee is provided with spaced elevating screws 28| and 282 which engage nuts 283 and 284 respectively mounted in stumps 285 and 286 which project outwardly from the pedestal 281 of the column. One of these nuts or both of them may be threaded in the respective pedestal to provide for slide adjustment or levelling of the table I3. A set screw 332 may be provided for locking the nut in adjusted position. These screws have bevel gears 288 and 289 respectively engaging with bevel gears 290 and 29| xed to a common adjusting shaft 292. This shaft is connecte'd by bevel gearing 293 to the operating shaft 294 which has the manually operable handle 295 fixed to the outer end thereof. This handle it will be noted from Figure 1, is also closely associated with the remaining control levers whereby every function oi the machine may be controlled from a vcentral operating station, thereby obviating any necessita for the operator to withdraw his attention from the mitting operation.

The shaft 294 has an indicator dial 298 xed therewith and graduated to thousandths of an inch. Attention is invited to the fact that one revolution of the dial 298 or, of dial ||1 associated with quill, will eifect relative movement between the pointer |48 and dial |52, Figure 14, one graduation thereon. It will thus be seen that if the graduations on dial |52 are graduated in quarters of an inch and each dial 298 and l1 graduated to thousandths of an inch and each revolution of their supporting shafts 294 and ||5 effects one quarter inch movement of the respective supports, the operator has a means for determinating tothe thousandth of an inch the spacing between the spindle nose and top of the table. It is only necessaryv to deduct the length of the projecting cutter to obtain the actual distance.

There has thus been provided an improved..

routing machine which will accommodate large or small work; which has a spindle transmission for rotating any style of cutter at its proper speed, whether exceedingly high or moderate; which has antifrictionally mountedsupports conducive to easy and effortless manual actuation; and which has all the controls centralized at one station, certain of said controls being adjustable so as to be within easy reach of the operator.

Attention is invited to the fact that in the operation of a machine of the class described, and especially in routing operations, the operator works to a very ne line which is scribed on the work piece and to overrun this line means that the work 1s spoiled. It is therefore ul the utmost importance that the slides be mounted to insure .the greatest possible freedom of movement and thereby immediate response to light pressures on the manual controls because otherwise, if heavy pressures are necessary, the resultant movement is jerky and almost impossible to control accurately.

It should therefore be apparent that improved results are obtained by using frictionless guides in this machine beyond the ordinary advantage of such devices, to Wit, the saving in power; and it will beV noted that these devices have been used at the places WhereA the greatest benet willV result, thatv is, on the guides which are used the most, and upon which the movement, that actually determines the relation between tool and work as respects said working line, takes place.

What is claimed is: 1. A routing machine having a column, a ram reciprocably mounted on the column, a cutterl `guideways on the column, a knee adjustably mounted on said guideways, a work table carried by the knee, anti-friction means for supporting the table on the knee, a pair of manually operable control devices carried by the knee, motion transmitting means connecting one of said manually operable devices to the ram, and additional motion transmitting means connecting the other manually operable device to the table whereby the ram and table may be easily and quickly moved relative to one another to effect a profiling or routing operation.

3. A routing machine having a column, horizontal guideways formed on the top of the collumn, av ram having' a portion reciprocably mounted on said guideways and a portion projecting beyond the column, a cutter spindle journaled in the projecting end of said ram, a work tions corresponding to stop, slow speed and high speed, and means for maintaining the control lever in'any onel of these positions.

4. A routing machine having a column, horizontal guideways formed on the top of the column, a ram reciprocablymounted on said guideways having a portion projecting beyond the column, a cutter spindle journaled in the projecting end of said ram, a work table movable transversely of the spindle, a knee for supporting the table on the column for -adjustment toward and from the spindle, a power transmission including a prime mover self-contained in the ram for effecting rotation of the spindle, a control lever for said transmission mounted on the projecting end of the ram and above said table, said control lever having three positions correspondingr to stop, slow speed and high speed, means for maintaining the control lever in any one of these positions, and additional means in said transmission for varying said slow speed or said high speed.

5. In a routing machine having a column and a work support carried by the column for relative movement in two directions, the combination. of a ram reciprocably mounted on the column for movement in a third direction relative'to the Work support, a tool spindle journaled in the free end of the ram, a power transmission self-contained in the ram for effecting rotation of the spindle, a quill mechanism for supporting the spindle in the ram for axial movement relative to the table, manually rotatable means for effecting adjustment of the quill, a first dial associated therewith and graduated to sub-divide the distance the'quill is moved .by one revolution of the manually operable means into thousandths of an inch, and additional means associated with the quill for indicating quill movement effected by a prescribed number of complete revolutions imparted to said manually rotatable means.

6. A routing machine having a column, a work support carried by the column for movement in two directions transverse to one another, a cutter spindle carried by the column, a spindle transmission including a prime mover, a rate change mechanism and two branch transmissions connected in parallel to said rate change mechanism, one of said branch transmissions being operable Yat a higher rate than the other, a selector for coupling either branch transmission to the spindle, said selector having a third position for stopping the spindle, a control cam, motion transmitting means coupling the control cam to said selector, manually operable means including a control lever mounted in adjacent relation to the work support for rotating said cam, said cam being configured to position the selector successively in a stop position, a low speed position and a high -speed position, and detent mechanism associated with the cam for maintaining the parts in any adjusted position.

'7. In a routing machine having a column, a vwork support reciprocably supported by the column for movement in one direction, a cutter spindle support carried by the column for movement transversely to the direction of table movement, a transmission for effecting rotation of the spindle including a prime mover, a rate change mechanism, rst and second branch transmissions continuously operated `by said mechanism, each of said branch transmissions terminating in rotors coaxial with said spindle, said second branch transmission including a large driver pulley and a plurality of V-belts coupling said pulley to the nnal rotor whereby ,a high speed step-up is effected over the first branch transmission, and a selector for coupling either branch transmission to the spindle.

8. A routing machine having a column, a work support carried by the column for movement relative thereto, a spindle carrier mounted on the column for movement transversely to the direction of work support movement, a cutter spindle journaled in the carrier, transmission means selfcontained in the carrier for eieeting rotation ofy the spindle including a prime mover, a change speed mechanism connected thereto, a first branch transmission extending from said mechanism Ito the spindle, a second branch transmission extending in parallel from the change speed mech- .anism to the spindle including a final rotor mounted for free rotation coaxial of the spindle, 11 said rotor having a plurality of V-shaped grooves `formed in the periphery thereof, a relatively large -knee' for effecting translation of the carrier,

driver for said rotor, a plurality of V-belts connecting the driver to the rotor, a power diven shaft supporting said driverand extending parallel to the spindle, a splined shaft extending from the change speed mechanism, and anadjustablev 5 bracket for supporting said power driven shaft in operative connection with said splined shaft, and'means to adjust said bracketto vary the tension on said V-belts.

9. A routing machine having a column, a 10 spindle carrier supported by the column for horizontal movement, a Work support carried by the column including a knee adjustable toward and from the spindle carrier, a work table carried by the knee for movement transversely to the-direction of movement of the spindle carrier, mechanism for effecting adjustment of the knee toward and from the spindle carrier including a pair of jointly operable elevating screws, a manually rotatable member for actuating said screws, a first 20 dial having graduations sub-dividing the distance the knee is moved by one rotation of said mem-V ber, and additional dial mechanism for indicating the distance moved by a plurality of complete revolutions of said member.

10. A routing machine having a column, a spindle carrier mounted on the column for horizontal movement in one direction, a work table movable in a 'horizontal direction transverse to the direction of movement of the spindle carrier, a knee'. for supporting the Work table on the ycolumn for movement toward and from the spindle carrier, knee elevating mechanism including a manually rotatable hand wheel, means for I indicating the spacing between the spindle carrier and the work table including dial mechanism associated with said hand wheel having graduations thereon-sub-dividing the distance'moved per revolution of the hand wheel, additional dial mechanism carried by thespindle carrier and 40 operatively connected With said hand wheel for indicating the distance moved for a plurality of complete revolutions of said hand wheel.

`1l. A routing machine having a column, a spindle carrier mounted on the column for horizontal movement, a cutter spindle journaled on the end of said carrier, a work support organization carried by the column including a knee vertically movable on'the column, a table reciprocably mounted on the knee for movement transverse to the direction of spindle carrier move-- ment, manually operable means carried by the knee for effecting translation of the table, addi'- tional manually operable means carried byA the motion transmitting means for maintaining `an operative connection between said second manually operable means and the carrier regardless of the position of adjustment of the knee, each of said manually operable means including a control shaft, an adjustable arm pivotally mountedon said control shaft, a hand-wheel rotatably mounted in the extremity of said arm, motion transmitting connections between the hand Wheel and shaft, and means for locking the arm in a plurality of adjustable positions whereby the hand wheel may be positioned at any elevation from the iioor suitable to the convenience of the operator and regardless of the vertical position of the supporting knee. 70 l2. A routing machine including a coumn, a

spindle carrier ram reciprocably mounted on the column, a cutter spindle journaled in the end of the ram, an axially adjustable quill for supporting the spindle in the' carrier, manually operable 75 means for adjusting said quill, a knee supported by the column,a work table reciprocably mounted on the knee, manually operable means for effecting movement of the knee and thereby adjustment of the table toward and from the spindle, and a dial mechanism mounted on the carrier and operable by either of said manual adjusting means for indicating the relative spacing between the spindle and table regardless of which one is adjusted.

13. A routing machine including a column, a

' spindle carrier ram reciprocably mounted on the column, a cutter spindle journaled in the endlof the ram, an axially adjustable quill for supporting the spindle in the carrier, manually operable means for adjusting said quill, a knee supported by the column, a work table reciprocably mounted on the knee, manually operable means for effecting movement of the knee and thereby adjustment of the table toward and from the spindle, a dial mechanism mounted on the carrier and operable by either of said` manual adjusting means for indicating the relative spacing between the spindle and table regardless of which one is adjusted, and additional manually operable means carried by the knee and operatively connected to said ram for effecting adjustment thereof While maintaining said spacing.

14. In a routing machine having a column and a work support carried by the column for reciprocation in one direction, the combination of a ram supported by the column for movement in a transverse direction, a cutter spindle journaled in the end of the ram for movement thereby over the table, a power transmission for said spindle self-contained in the ram, including a prime mover and a rate change mechanism in the order recited, parallel branch transmissions coupled for continuous actuation by the rate change mechanism and selectively cnnectible to the spindle, one of said transmissions including a high speed step-up, the ratio of which is sufficiently high to cause normally gear-lock, non-locking motion transmitting means 'interconnecting the parts forming the high speed step-up, and a manually operable selector for 'coupling either branch transmission to the spindle.

15. A milling machine having a column, a vertical spindle carried thereby, a work support carried by the column for movement transversely of the spindle, means for effecting rotation of the spindle including a prime mover,`a drive shaft,

Ameans to -establish three different relations between the shaft and spindle including a control `element rotatable to three different positions to effect the respective relations, a manually actuable .lever mounted adjacent the spindle and oscillatable to three different positions for positioning said element, motion transmitting connections including a pair of bevel gears for connecting the lever to said element, and detent means for holding the lever in its different positions.

16. A milling machine having a column, a vertical spindle carried thereby, a work support carried bythe column for movement transversely of the spindle, means for eifecting rotation of the spindle including a prime mover, a drive shaft .actuated thereby, means to establish three different relations between the shaft and spindle, one of said relationsconstituting a disconnection between the shaft and spindle, said means including a shif ter member, a rotatable element for shifting said member to three different positions to effect the respective relations, a manually actuable lever operatively connected to the rotatable element, a brake for said spindle, and additional means operable by the lever upon movement thereby of the shifter to a position causing disconnection between the drive shaft and spindle to apply said rake.

17. A routing machine having av column, a spindle carrier mounted on the column for movement in one rectilinear direction, a work table `for movement in a second direction transverse 10' to the direction of spindle carrier movement, a knee for supporting the work table on the column and movable to adjust the work table toward and from the spindle carrier, knee elevating mechanism including a manually rotatable hand wheel l5 carried by the knee, a dial supported by lthe spindle carrier, and means responsive to movement of the knee for effecting rotation of the dial to indicate the amount of knee movement.

18. A routing machine having a column, a spindle carrier mounted on the column for movement in one rectilinear direction, ya work table for movement in a second direction transverse to the direction of spindle carrier movement, a knee for supporting the work table on the column and movable to adjust the work table toward and from the spindle carrier, knee elevating mechanism including a manually rotatable hand wheel carried by the knee, a dial supported by the spindle carrier, and motion transmitting connections between the knee and dial for indicating the movement eifected by said hand wheel upon rotation thereof, said motion transmitting connections including mechanism for maintaining a given dial reading during adjustment of the spin- 35 dle carrier while the knee is stationary.

19. A routing machine having a column, a Spindle carrier mounted on 'the column for movement in one rectilinear direction, a work table for movement in a second direction transverse 40 to the direction of spindle carrier movement, a knee for supporting 'the work table on the column and movable to adjust the work table toward and from the spindle carrier, knee elevating mechanism including a manually rotatable hand wheel car-ried by the knee, a dial 'supported by the spindle carrier, and motion transmitting connections between the knee and dial for indicating the movement eifected by said hand wheel upon rotation thereof, said motion transmitting connections including mechanism for effecting accurate rotation of the dial regardless of the movement of the spindle carrier.

20. In a machine tool having a base, a tool sup- `port and a work support mounted thereon, and

each movable relative to the other, the combination of means for indicating the individual movement of each movable support including a common dial mechanism, and independent connections between each movable support and said mechanism. 21. In a machine tool having a base, a tool support and a work support mounted thereon, and each movable relative to the other, the combination of means for indicating the individual move- 65 each movable relative to the other, the combination of means for indicating the individual movement of each movable support including a common dial mechanism, said mechanism comprising-a pair of concentrically rotatable members, independent connections between the movable supports and the respective members whereby upon movement of either individual support, orv

joint movement of both supports, the change in spacing between them will be continuously indicated, and means to move either support laterally with respect to the other support without disturbing said dial reading.

23. In a routing machine having a column and a work table carried by the column for transverse movement, the combination of means for supporting a cutter spindle for easy manual movement transversely to the direction of table movement including horizontal guidewaysformed on the top of the column, anti-friction means for supporting the ram on said guideways, additional anti-friction means carried by the column and engaging portions of the ram to prevent lifting thereof, said last named means including pairs of anti-friction rollers," means to equalize the pressure of each pair, and manually'operable means adjacent the work support and operatively connected to the ram for effecting translation thereof.

24. A routing machine having a supporting frame, a. cutter spindle, a carrier for supporting the spindle on the frame for movement transversely of the axis ofthe cutter spindle, a work table supported by the frame for movement in a second direction transverse of the axis of the cutter spindle; a knee intermediate the table and frame and movable to adjust the work table parallel to the axis of thespindle, mechanical means for translating the work table on the knee, additional mechanical means for translating the carrier relative to the frame, each of said mechanical means terminating in a hand wheel supported by the knee and grouped for individual or simultaneous actuation by the operator. 5

25. A routing machine having a supporting frame, a cutter spindle, a carrier for' supporting the spindle on the frame for movement trans-- versely to the axis of the spindle, a work table supported by the frame for movement in a. di-'lo rection transversely to the axis of the cutter spindle and angularly related to said rst direc` tion, power operable means including a feedy transmission for translating the table, mechaniv cal means for translating the carrier, said last l5 named means terminating in a manually operable element located adjacent the side of the table whereby the spindle may be simultaneously moved by hand during power operation of the table to produce an undulating cutter path.

26. A routing machine having a supporting frame, a cutter spindle, a carrier for supporting the spindle on the frame for movement transversely to the axis of the spindle, a work table supported by the frame for movement in a di- 25 rection transversely to the axisof the cutter spindle and angularly related to said first direction, power operable means including a feed transmission `for translating the table, mechanii cal means for translating the carrier, said last 30 named means terminating in a manually operable element located adjacent the side of the table whereby the spindle may be simultaneously moved by hand during power operation of the ltable to produce an undulating cutter path, and 35 manually operable means for eiiecting axial adjustment of the cutter spindle to vary the depth of the undulating cut. l

ERWIN G. ROEHM. 

